Around the MLB: Getting over steroid scandal

Friday

Feb 22, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 22, 2008 at 10:21 PM

I’m sick of Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Paul LoDuca’s 122-word fake apology, the Mitchell Report and almost everything related to performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. I’m sick of losing respect for players, some of whom I’ve known since they were in the minor leagues, because of their reluctance to tell the whole truth. I’m so sick of it, in fact, I’m going to Florida for a month.

I’m sick of losing respect for players, some of whom I’ve known since they were in the minor leagues, because of their reluctance to tell the whole truth.

I’m sick of being required to stage an internal moral debate on steroid use every time I fill out a Hall of Fame ballot.

I’m so sick of it, in fact, I’m going to Florida for a month.

There are many distractions in spring training, and they have never before been so welcome. The smells: Fresh-cut outfield grass. Glove oil. Hot dogs. Suntan lotion. The sounds: A fastball popping dirt out of the catcher’s mitt. Conversations in rapid-fire Spanish. A bat striking a ball that’s on its way over the fence and into somebody’s backyard.

The memories: Russell Branyan hitting a home run out of the ballpark at old Baseball City, across the road (over a passing car) and finding a sand dune on the other side. The Chain of Lakes Park grounds crew wrapping athletic tape around the snout of an alligator in the players’ parking lot. Spending afternoons sitting on hot metal bleachers with Pete Rose Jr.’s girlfriend and a half-dozen other folks, watching Double-A spring-training games.

I refuse to let a congressional subcommittee ruin this for me. Brainless, juiced-up players telling bald-faced lies can’t discourage me. The Yankees, even with a $200 million payroll, can’t barter for my joy.

On Thursday, the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros will play baseball. And, at least in Florida, winter will be over.

Hang on, Grandma

Detroit reliever Joel Zumaya drove from San Diego to spring training in Lakeland, Fla., with his brother, Richard, and grandmother, Tammy.

The Detroit News reports Zumaya stopped only briefly in Arizona and Louisiana, and he hinted at often exceeding 100 mph during the trek — with Grandma on the lookout for the highway patrol.

“When I’m out on the open road, I fly,” Zumaya admitted. “Grandma got freaked out a couple of times. But when she got used to it, she was telling me when I was clear.”

Oldie but goodie

How is Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel, who turns 41 in April, feeling these days?

“I feel great,” Vizquel told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I feel like a GT 500 with a 429 engine. That car was made the same year I was born. I feel like an old classic car — I hope, with some value.”

Numbers don’t lie

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania put together a statistical study of every ball put in play from 2002 through 2005 and concluded that New York’s Derek Jeter was the worst shortstop in baseball during that period.

The results were presented during a Feb. 16 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Clint Barmes, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Bartlett were ranked 1-2-3 among shortstops in defensive effectiveness.

“Maybe it was a computer glitch,” Jeter told the New York Post.

The hot seat

Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn is 142-162 in five years as head coach at San Diego State and has yet to lead the Aztecs to an NCAA tournament. San Diego State did win the Mountain West Conference regular-season title in 2004.

“I thought it was going to be easy. And, boy, was I wrong,” Gwynn said in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Ozzie being Ozzie

White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen told the Sun-Times he plans to return to being his old volatile self this season after exhibiting perhaps a bit too much patience in 2007.

“I’ll be cocky,” Guillen said. “If we win this year, I might run naked down Michigan Avenue like people expect me to do.”

The Hart connection

Former Indians General Manager John Hart not only rebuilt the Cleveland franchise during the 1990s, but he spawned a notable group of front-office personnel.

Former assistants Dan O’Dowd (Rockies), Mark Shapiro (Indians) and Josh Byrnes (Diamondbacks) made it to the 2007 playoffs.

Byrnes, hired by Arizona in 2005, was rewarded with an eight-year contract extension Tuesday that runs through 2015.

Feet fleet

Nike has honored National League MVP Jimmy Rollins with his own line of shoes. The red, white and blue sneakers have the letters “MVP” and a Liberty Bell on the sides.